Assiglstoe to



(No Model.)

J. ROBERTS.

WALKING TRACK FOR GYMNASIUMS.

No. 358,483; Patented Mar. 1, 1887L min/anew UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE,

ROBERT JEFFRIES ROBERTS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERTJAMES MILLER, OF SAME PLACE.

WALKING-TRACK FOR GYM NASIUMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent. No. 358,483, dated March1, 1887.

Application filed October 20, 1886. Serial No. 216,786, (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT J EFFRIES Ron ERTS, of Boston, in the countyof Suffolk, of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Walking-Tracks for Gymnasia; and I do herebydeclare the same to be described in the following specification, andrepresented in the accompanying drawing, which is a vertical section ofa walking-track of my invention, the nature of which is defined in theclaim hereinafter presented.

In constructing my said track I first evenly spread upon a wooden floora layer of what is termed boiler-felt or other like yielding material,which I fasten to the floor by glue interposed between them and appliedto the entire under surface of such covering. Next I stretch firmly overand upon the whole u pper surface of the yielding covering a layer ofcanvas or cotton-duck and secure it in place by nails driven through itclose to its edges and into the wooden floor; Next I cover the uppersurface of such canvas or duck with a series of coats ofoil-paint-generally five in number-allowing each after its applicationto dry before the next one is spread upon it. In this way I form a trackthat is not only yielding to the feet of a pedestrian, but is water anddust proof, as any water applied to it for washing it cannot get throughit to cause decay or injury to the elastic or yielding covering. Beforeapplying the canvas to the felt the latter should be rolled down with aheavy garden-roller.

In the drawing, A denotes the floor; B, the yielding or elastic coveringor backing of felt; O, the canvas or cotton-duck lining, and D D D D theseveral coats of oil-paint,

A walking-track made as above described has been found in practice to behighly useful.

I am aware that it is not new to place under a common ingrain orBrussels carpet a-layer 'of felt, and also that it is not new to cover-asheet of canvas with paint. Consequently I do not claim such. I am notaware, however, that a felt backing has ever before been used under apainted or oil-cloth carpet, such'a carpet being affixed directly to afloor, and is inelastic, and in such conditionwill not answer for awalking-track.

I therefore claim- As a new or improved manufacture, a gymnasium walking-track, substantially as described, consisting ofa wooden floor, a layerof glue, one of thick felt or an elastic or yielding material fastenedby such glue on its entire under surface to the floor, a covering ofcanvas or duck, and a series of coats of oilpaint applied to each otherand having the lowest one applied directly to the upper surface of thecanvas, all essentially as specified.

. ROBERT J EFFRIES ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, ROBERT J. MILLER.

